3) The State of the Town

Municipal officials believe the overall quality of life in Enfield is good – with work to be done in some areas. However, they intend to engage citizens to see where people are satisfied and where they believe Enfield should work to make intentional change.

Enfield’s municipal government oversees everything except the schools, which is covered by the school district and its boards and administration. But education also plays a major role in making Enfield a desirable and affordable community in which to live and to grow businesses, since education costs for Enfield consume 65% of all tax dollars. That said, this strategic governance initiative is focused on Enfield’s municipal government, and not our schools.

The views of town officials are documented in the below hyperlinked narratives. They are based on their own experience and insights, departmental data, and feedback from Enfield residents.

Resident Feedback ­– Residents have expressed their interests in Enfield:

  • Dealing with the real sewer and trash collection costs.
  • Rebuilding the undesignated fund balance.
  • Investing in infrastructure (Whitney Hall, library, police station, fire and ambulance space, etc.) and potential solutions such as a safety or municipal complex.
  • Repairing other historic buildings.
  • Implementing a development plan to better attract new businesses, support existing businesses, and reduce the residential tax burden.
  • Creating community gathering places (downtown and elsewhere).
  • Building more appropriate housing to attract and retain residents.
  • Advocating for stronger schools to attract and retain younger families.
  • Making the TIF initiative work effectively.
  • Planning for the succession of an aging town workforce.
  • Calculating a more realistic CIP budget.
  • Completing the Town’s acquisition of, and improving, Mascoma Lakeside Park.

Residents like that Enfield has its own unique identity. While they don’t want the town to be like any particular community, there are aspects of other communities that they find desirable: e.g., a nicely maintained and walkable downtown area with enticing smaller storefronts, greenspace, and parking; adequate housing stock that meets the needs of people from all walks of life; low levels of crime and the feeling of a safe community; a larger number of young families to help grow and sustain the region; well-maintained roads and other public infrastructure, ongoing improvements to high-speed internet/broadband; good recreational areas; and programs that take advantage of the lake and access to parks and other open space.

Click HERE to return to main page of Strategic Governance in Enfield.